Amos 3:8

Amos 3:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
• New International Version (NIV)The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken— who can but prophesy?
• New King James Version (NKJV)A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?
• New Living Translation (NLT)The lion has roared— so who isn’t frightened? The Sovereign Lord has spoken— so who can refuse to proclaim his message?

Context of Amos 3:8

6Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it? 7"For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?" 9Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults within her, and the oppressed in her midst." 10"They do not know how to do right," declares the Lord, "those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds."

Amos 3:8 word by word

אַרְיֵ֥ה שָׁאָ֖ג מִ֣י לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙ דִּבֶּ֔ר מִ֖י לֹ֥א יִנָּבֵֽא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The lionאַרְיֵה'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
• hath roaredשָׁאַגshâ'ag · to roarH7580
• who will notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• fearיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
• hath spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• who can but prophesyנָבָאnâbâ' · to prophesyH5012

Cross-references for Amos 3:8

• Amos 3:4Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?
• Amos 1:2And he said: "The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers."
• Revelation 5:5And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."
• Amos 2:12"But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, 'You shall not prophesy.'
• Amos 7:12And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there,
• Job 32:18For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.
• Jeremiah 20:9If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
• Acts 4:20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
• Acts 5:20"Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."
• 1 Corinthians 9:16For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Commentaries on Amos 3:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The lion hath roared - God hath sent forth a terrible alarm, Who will not fear? Can any hear such denunciations of Divine wrath and not tremble? The Lord God hath spoken - And those only who are in communion with him have heard the speech. Who can but prophesy? Who can help proclaiming at large the judgment threatened against the nation? But I think נבא naba, here, is to be taken in its natural and ideal signification, to pray, supplicate, or deprecate…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The Lion hath roared: who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken: who can but prophesy? - that is, there is cause for you to fear, when the Lord “roareth from Zion;” but if ye fear not, God‘s prophets dare not but fear. So Paul saith, “necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensation” of the Gospel “is committed unto me” 1 Corinthians…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8God, like a lion, has roared from Mount Zion (Amos 1:2) and urged Amos to prophesy (see 7:14–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. As when "the lion roars" (compare Am 1:2; Am 3:4), none can help but "fear," so when Jehovah communicates His awful message, the prophet cannot but prophesy. Find not fault with me for prophesying; I must obey God. In a wider sense true of all believers (Ac 4:20; 5:29).Read the comment

Topics related to Amos 3:8

• Prophets

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Agreed
• Amos (1)
• Prophecy; Prophets
• Semites, Semitic Religion

Commentaries on Amos 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings